In this Jan. 31, 2010 file photo, an unmanned U.S. Predator drone flies over Kandahar Air Field, southern Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON—The White House on Tuesday rebuffed suggestions from two human-rights groups that the administration doesn’t adhere to its own standards when it carries out drone strikes.

“U.S. counterterrorism operations are precise, they are lawful and they are effective,” said Mr. Obama’s chief spokesman, Jay Carney. He also said the administration was reviewing the reports carefully.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch released reports Tuesday relying on first-hand accounts that document civilian casualties from U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan and Yemen. The reports also highlight the complex counterterrorism challenges the U.S. faces as it carries out its unpiloted aircraft program and weighs the value of killing terrorists against the risks of killing civilians.

Mr. Carney said there is usually a gap between the number of casualties reported by nongovernmental organizations and the U.S. government. He said the U.S. tries to limit civilian casualties though in war setting casualties usually can’t be completely avoided.

“Before we take any counterterrorism strike outside areas of active hostilities, there must be near-certainty that no civilians will be killed or injured, and that is the highest standard we can set,” Mr. Carney said.

The reports were released just a day before Mr. Obama is set to meet with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the White House, where the U.S. drone policy will likely be a central part of their meeting.

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